50 Words for Snow

In the 1880s a British anthropology student named Franz Boas remarked that he had learned during his study of the Inuit people of Barrin Island that they had 50 words for snow, whereas English speakers only had the one word. This statement really only revealed the limitations Boaz had in his life experience. English speakers who work or play around ice or snow have many names for snow, he just had not heard them.

Listed below are some words for snow that are used by skiers, mountaineers, hikers, and others who are around snow a lot:

barchan

firn

penitentes

hoarfrost

powder snow (below)

That is more than 40, and I’m sure there are many more…

hardpack

cordurouy

black ice

serac

mogul

blue ice

glacier ice

bergshrund (below)

sea ice

sastrusi

boilplate

death cookies

deposition snow

hoar frost

consolidated snow

groomed

wind driven

wind driven
Hail

Ice fall (below)

graupel

yard sale

crust
Snow fluting (below)

Bergschrund
Slab avalanche
Crevasse
Snow bridge
Sea ice

Cornice (below)

valley glacier

ice tower

icicle

rime ice

klister snow

snorkel skiing

slab avalanche

snow bridge

sun cups, below